Banking on resilience: building capacities through financial services inclusion

This policy brief looks at experiences in Mali, Ethiopia and Myanmar in helping to build resilience to climate extremes and disasters through increased financial inclusion.

Key policy messages presented in the document are: i) financial services inclusion helps build climate resilience and non-traditional financial services are better able to reach the most vulnerable, but action is needed on the demand and the supply side; ii) a more transparent regulatory framework for these services can help promote inclusion and growth in the sector (and so competition and flexibility), alongside protection for users and improved physical access for the most vulnerable; iii) support to service providers is needed to build capacity, financial literacy and trust of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in the banking system.